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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU Practice Reports
9/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2008
Wednesday Media Conference
Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger
Emotional Game with Minnesota
I'm not going to say anything. They (FAU's team) is smart enough to understand. We don't try to make games bigger or smaller. We let the tide of emotions grow as the importance of the game grows in the minds of the players and the fans.
It is important to have a standard of enthusiasm by determination and preparedness for each of your games and equal them out and not try to play better against an opponent and hold off on another.
On the Linebackers
We thought the linebackers would be the strength of this team. We have five senior linebackers and the balance is upper classman with two freshmen. So, obviously we have a great deal of experience in our linebackers. They have been the better piece of our defense. We ask them to play inspired ball because they are the leaders, because they are so experienced and because they are in their last year. I'm delighted that they came together and had a great game.
Another spread team and the successful play of the DL at Michigan State
I think that will be very important in this game because we need to get a pass rush out of four people on first, second and third downs when the scouting report designates it is a play of choice. If they do that, the linebackers can deploy and cover the short receivers and the secondary can cover the deep receivers.
Put last week's performance behind you?
I think so. I think we will be able to bounce back. No one is hanging their head worrying about the Michigan State loss and the weather. It shouldn't be a problem this week (bouncing back).
Emotion of the Game
I'm sure they will be fired up. We just want to come out and play our game regardless.
Receiving Core Rotation Coach has us rotate in and out. Cortez (Gent) and I start the game. Lester (Jean) comes in back and forth. If someone has a long deep route the person on the sideline comes in to balance it out. It is better for us.
Rusty Spreading it Out
When you don't have a single person that the quarterback goes to all the time defenses can't take it away and double team. If they do, it is great for us because we can spread it out. Rusty is good about spreading it out. It is great if they want to double team one person, he can go to any other person: Rob, Jamari, myself, Lester, Cortez and even the running backs.
We have realized how we have to play and we are moving forward from there. We have found the tempo that we need to play at. That is what defense is really about, the intensity and the emotions that you bring out. Our talent showed through last week in practice and in last week's game. As long as we bring the intensity and focus that we brought to the Michigan State game we will be ok.
Minnesota and the Offense
They won't run the ball at you like Michigan State. They are a lot different. They trick you with where the ball is going and hit the gaps. We have to line-up and come off the ball and get into the backfield.
Tuesday Practice Report
The Florida Atlantic University football team conducted a three hour practice today in warm, breezy weather. This is the first practice in preparation for Saturday's game at the University of Minnesota.
The defensive line did a good job today applying pressure during both running and passing plays. "We are just trying to improve on the pass rush as it will be important on Saturday because Minnesota has great quarterback in Adam Weber" defensive line coach Eli Rasheed said. Rasheed also mentioned that senior defensive end Julian Myers has been impressive. "Julian Myers has done a pretty good job and as you look at his past with injuries and everything, he has stepped up and done a good job."
FAU will take on the University of Minnesota this Saturday, September 20th at 12 p.m. (EST) in Minneapolis. Minnesota is 3-0 on the season, with wins against Northern Illinois University, Bowling Green State University and Montana State University. The game will be available on the Big 10 Network or can be viewed at several of FAU's watch party locations. It will be the third match up between the teams, as Minnesota won the first game 46-7 in 2005 and FAU knotted the series 1-1 in 2007 with a 42-39 home victory.
After playing Minnesota and Middle Tennessee State on the road, FAU will return home to play conference opponent Troy University on Tuesday, October 7th at 8 p.m. For more information on tickets, you may call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
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